INVESTIGATION ON PHYTOCHEMICAL AND ANTIMICROBIAL PROPERTIES OF ACORUS CALAMUS EXTRACT

Abstract

Acorus calamus is a prominent perennial flora often employed in the traditional healthcare system and have long been familiar for the therapeutic value. It’s a semi-aquatic and smelly flora which is exist in both the temperate as well as sub-temperate zones. Antimicrobic action of Acorus calamus rhizome samples attained using various solvents viz., H₂O, Methanol, Ethanol, Butanol, Hexane, etc. were assessed. The phyto-chemical study exposed the existence of Flavonoids, Glycosides, Saponins, Resins and Steroids in the rhizome extract and it was assumed to confer antimicrobial activities. The Extracts attained with Ethyl Acetate and Ethanol amongst others were identified as hugely efficient. Ethanol and Ethyl acetate extracts showed pronounced antimicrobial activity towards MRSA by a significant zone of inhibition and antifungal action towards Aspergillus niger by a significant zone of inhibition. The rhizome extracts can be employed as potential antimicrobial agents